Palm Coast residents press county over proposed airport zoning overlay, citing noise, flight training and property concerns

Residents and city officials raised questions and objections about a proposed Flagler County airport zoning overlay during public comment and staff presentations at a Palm Coast City Council workshop.

Residents from neighborhoods near Palm Coast’s general aviation airport said low-altitude training flights, frequent touch‑and‑go operations and imprecise notices about the overlay’s geographic reach are creating anxiety over noise, property values and possible future restrictions.

The county’s presentations described the overlay as a starting point built on the FDOT model and on Florida statute chapter 333, and county staff said they plan to publish interactive maps and the adopted ordinance text before any interlocal agreement is considered. County legal and aviation advisers warned of federal preemption over local restrictions on airspace, and staff suggested the most practical path to reduce neighborhood training flights may be working with the FAA or hiring an aviation attorney to pursue operational limits, such as touch‑and‑go restrictions.

Why it matters: The overlay would create defined airport zones and standards the county says will protect flight safety and public welfare. Residents worry the ordinance’s text could…